Rescue update - 15th May 2025 : Meet Grub, a female grey seal pup who at just 2 days old was found alone on Tresco, Isles of Scilly on the 9th of May 2025. Despite hopes her mum would return, she was still by herself the next day.
She is now in the isolation unit of the hospital at the Sanctuary, taking her fish soup well and getting round-the-clock care. Pups this young are very fragile, so she´s not quite out of the woods yet; and not ready for visitors. The animal care team giving her all the quiet time she needs to rest and heal. We´ve got everything crossed for this little lady??
Rescue update - 30th May 2025 : The tiny seal pup Grub is doing well and showing promising signs in her recovery journey! Her umbilicus has now closed, which is a great milestone and puts her in good stead as she continues her rehab. She is also moved on to eating whole fish, a big step for a little pup!
That said, Grub is still very, very little, she has a long road ahead and is not out of the woods yet! But for now, the team so proud of her progress and cheering her on every step of the way!
Pup Season Closes with Exciting Insights : As the Cornish Seal Sanctuary Tracks Young Seals in the Wild
As the Cornish Seal Sanctuary marks the close of another successful pup rescue season, a pioneering new GPS tagging project is shedding light on what happens after the rescue; offering a glimpse into the lives of rehabilitated grey seal pups once they return to the wild.
The exciting trial study run by Dr. Luis Huckstadt of the University of Exeter in cooperation with the Sanctuary has tracked the movements of 16 rehabilitated seal pups released back into UK waters this winter. The data is helping researchers and animal care teams understand how rescued seals reintegrate into their natural environment; and the early results are already surprising the team.
From Cornwall to France, Brixham to Ireland, these young seals are on the move!
The first pup fitted with a tag, Maggot, made an unexpected beeline toward Brittany, travelling over 150 miles. But it was Selkie, rescued from Jersey in January, who became the first to cross international waters; swimming up the River Somme in northern France before settling in the eastern English Channel, where he´s remained for several weeks.
Other tagged seals have shown remarkable homing behaviour. Whirligig, a pup rescued from Weymouth, headed straight back to his local waters after being released, and was even spotted lounging on the pontoons of Brixham Harbour this spring. And Dung Beetle, a pup released in South Cornwall, headed straight for the southern coast of Ireland and is still exploring the seas near Wexford. Click here to read more.
This map shows the distance where the seals are travelling to... i.e. pink line is Selkie & blue line is Dung Beetle
We say goodbye to Animal Care Superstar - Joe!
As the last of our rescued seal pups return to the wild at the end of last month, we´re wrapping up another busy season of rescues, rehab and releases.
We´re also waving goodbye to one of our own...
We "released" Animal Care Superstar Joe, who´s off to start a new adventure!
Joe has been a huge part of the team. We´ll miss his hard work, good humour and fish-prep skills! Good luck Joe, we know you´ll be amazing, we just hope Ben will be okay??
Thank you to everyone who supported the Cornish Seal Sanctuary this pup season, whether you visited, donated, or sponsored a pup. Here´s to next season!
Turnip the Eurasian beaver kit has officially graduated to our larger beaver habitat earlier this month! After showing off some brilliant beavering behaviour, from swimming to damn building, he´s proven he´s ready for the next big step!
Turnip was rescued by the SSPCA on the 18th of May 2024, found alone and calling out with his umbilicus still attached, a clear sign he was just days old. Sadly, no parents were ever found, but thanks to expert care and round-the-clock attention, he´s now thriving!
Turnip is just getting started, keep an eye out as he explores and gives the sanctuary´s habitat a proper beaver makeover!
Happy 1st Birthday...Turnip??
On the 18th of May, the team celebrated a very special milestone, Turnip turned ONE!
From curious kit to "confident" explorer, who is apparently still scared of the occasional stick! Turnip has grown so much in just a year, and the team couldn´t be prouder of our busy little bundle of joy!
Did you know...Seals have highly sensitive whiskers that help them detect movement and prey in the water, especially in murky conditions.
Click here to see photos of the resident seals which were taken this month.
Click here or on the image below to see a selection of photos which were taken this month in the Paddock.
Whilst you stroll along the woodlands walk you may see this month a mixture of plants in the woods including those typical of Cornish wildflowers like red campion, herb-robert, bluebells and foxgloves. Don´t forget to take a look into the beaver´s enclosure. Also look out for the Bugs Hotels along the walkways.
Click here to see a selection of the photos taken this month.
The Big Give Green Match Fund
Leanne Attwood, Campaigns & Fundraising Manager for the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said "A HUGE thank you to everyone who took part in our Big Give Green Match Fund fundraising campaign, we are delighted to tell you that we raised a fantastic £3,056.40 including Gift Aid!
Every single pound will go directly to our "Fund Our Future" project, bringing us one step closer to building a brand-new, state-of-the-art home for our beloved resident seals."
Sprint for Seals is BACK for 2025!
Did you Join the Cornish Seal Sanctuary on 18th of May for a scenic 3km sprint, stroll or saunter around the Sanctuary to help "Fund Our Future" and build new pools for our resident seals! Hope you did not forget to wave at the seals as you passed!
If you were not local? You could had taken part remotely via Strava!
- Incredible prizes! For every £50 raised, you´ll earn one entry into the raffle, with amazing experiences up for grabs!
Did you know...The puffin´s distinctive bill has given it the nicknames of "sea parrot" and "bottle nose". Although it looks a bit like a penguin or a parrot, it is actually related to the auk family - its close, larger relatives being razorbills and guillemots.
Click here or on the image below to see a selection of the Puffins photos which were taken this month.
Adopt a Resident?
Give a gift that truly makes a difference, adopt a resident today and be a hero for wildlife!
By adopting one of the incredible resident seals or rescue puffins, you´ll be directly supporting their care and conservation! Your adoption helps to ensure that all of the resident animals receive the very best, from nutritious meals to expert veterinary support, and even fun enrichment activities to keep them happy and healthy.
Each adoption pack includes:-
- Certificate of Adoption
- A small Cornish Seal Sanctuary souvenir
- Photograph of your adopted resident
- Profile of your adopted resident
Every adoption contributes to the ongoing efforts of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, helping with the rescue, rehabilitate, and protect marine life for generations to come.
Your adoption not only supports your chosen animal but also plays a vital role in marine conservation. By adopting today, you become part of the Sanctuary´s mission to protect these wonderful creatures and their habitats.
Click here for more details.
Click here to visit the Cornish Seal Sanctuary´s Official Online Shop.
PUFFIN PATROL - MAY HALF-TERM ADVENTURE
When : 24th May to 1st June 2025
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary are celebrating all things puffin with a week full of fun. Follow the trail to find the Rescue Puffins, crack the clues, and uncover the secret Puffin Patrol Password!
Head over to Puffin Island to hear their amazing rescue stories and watch these charismatic birds darting through the water.
Don´t forget to stop by the pools to say hello to the resident seals!
With an onsite café, kid´s playground, and beautiful woodland walks, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary is the perfect family day out this May!
Book tickets online 2 days in advance to save 20% on Standard Admission.
SEA LIFE TRUST GLOBAL BEACH CLEAN
Date : Thursday 5th June 2025
Time : 10am
Location : Poldhu Cove
Join the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for a beach clean at Poldhu Cove
Suitable footwear and clothing is advised. Children are welcome! All children must be supervised by a responsible adult. Don´t forget that everyone who takes part with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary gets free day entry* to the Sanctuary! *Pass must be redeemed within 12 months´ of beach clean.
If you are unable to attend this one in Cornwall, please visit your local SEA LIFE to find out more.
Join the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and co-hosting with the One Bag group for a beach clean at Maenporth.
Suitable footwear and clothing is advised. Children are welcome! All children must be supervised by a responsible adult. Don´t forget that everyone who takes part with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary gets free day entry* to the Sanctuary! *Pass must be redeemed within 12 months´ of beach clean.
If you are unable to attend this one in Cornwall, please visit your local SEA LIFE to find out more.
Join us for "No Mow May"!
This month the Cornish Seal Sanctuary are letting nature take the lead by taking part in "No Mow May!" By leaving areas of grass uncut, we´re creating vital habitats and food sources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators around the Sanctuary.
Why not join us at home and let your garden grow wild too? Together, we can give wildlife a helping hand this spring!
We went to check on a seal colony in Cornwall this month - hope you enjoy looking at the photos. Click here to see a selection of photos.
These photos were taken with Nikon Coolpix P1000 camera which contains a 3000mm zoom lens!
Each released seal pup is given a flipper tag with an unique ID number. This helps the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and the Seal Research Trust to track and monitor where pups end up and how they are doing once they are back in the wild.
This month the following seals were spotted in the wild by both the public and Seal Research Trust volunteers around the South West England and Wales:-
The information regarding tagged seals seen in the wild is copyright of the Seal Research Trust.
By monitoring the behaviour of seals after release back into the wild, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, the Seal Research Trust and other organisations can use this information to define the best practice standards and policies that they can share with the international rescue community.
Each seal´s fur pattern is unique and enables the Seal Research Trust volunteers to track them for life.
Seals face many challenges, yet we all depend on them to balance our marine ecosystem, which is essential to make the oxygen we breathe.
Seals are our globally rare wildlife tourist attraction, helping diversify coastal economic prosperity.
This news update has been put together by volunteers/supporters of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.
